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Participant Quotes
 
"We were expecting to gain a few tidbits on teaching, but we left with strategies that have the potential to change the culture and attitude of our school forever."
...4 Teachers from Brooklyn College Academy, grades 9 - 10
"Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to share in this awesome learning experience."
...Math Teacher, Cape Coral, Florida
"This conference was the best educational experience I've had since I left college. I've been to seminars, clinics, and all kinds of workshops, but this conference was more value than anything I've experienced. In the past week, I reflected more on my teaching practices than I've ever done since I began my career."
...Teacher of Middle School Science, St. Lawrence County, New York
"I was awed by your effort to make each person at the conference feel valued."
...Middle School Teacher, ELA, State of Delaware
"We had an amazing experience at the conference!"
...Social Studies Teachers, New York City, New York
"I want to say how much I enjoyed the week. The level of learning just continues to rise every year!"
...Staff Developer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
"Our team became a cohesive group of educators that truly have the kids at heart. We are going to really try to get together on a regular basis to discuss and encourage each other with things learned at this conference."
...Elementary Teacher, St. Lawrence County, New York
Focus Format Participants Family Costs University Credit History E-mail

 
    The Design Conference's....
    Participants
      Every stake holder, from every stake holder group, is invited to come to the Design Conference to take part in reforming education to improve our schools' and our children's futures.
A WIDE RANGE OF PARTICIPANTS
 
  
Diversity is applauded and celebrated at the Design Conference, and our unique environment has traditionally drawn a wide range of participants from all backgrounds and levels, including:
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Principals
  • Superintendents
  • University Professors
  • College Students
  • Board of Education Members
  • Staff Developers
  • Researchers
  • Content Experts
  • Members of the State Education Department
  • Educational Consultants
    Lots of resources are available at the Design Conference, but it is kept small enough to give you the intimacy and sense of community that have made previous conferences so successful.
 
TEAMS
Participants work in teams of 3 or more on an authentic project that is important to their classrooms, schools, districts, community, etc. Participants come from as close as northern New York, or from as far as India and New Zealand! Each team is matched with its own trained facilitator to help keep them on task. Facilitators may also act as mentors, resource locators, or any other role your team needs filled.
 
A NOTE TO ADMINISTRATORS
Administrators and staff developers are encouraged to bring/send teams to work on initiatives that are already underway and/or which they wish to get underway for the following year. Sometimes it's appropriate for an administrator or staff developer to work as a member of the team. Other times, they want the team(s) to work independently, but they like the idea of being a facilitator at the conference so they have easy access to the team(s) they have brought without being with them every minute.
 
      "The first night we arrived, I thought everything was very strange: the people, the clothing, the language. But now, everyone at the conference is beginning to look Indian to me."
      Neerja Chauhan, participant from India